Rice Burger Shop Will Open in the East Village

One intrepid chef already made New York safe for hamburgers with buns made out of ramen noodles, so it shouldn’t be too much of a stretch to say that people will likely be excited to try burgers that have steamed and grilled rice patties instead of bun halves. Yonekichi opens August 18 in the minuscule former Otafuku space at 236 East Ninth Street and will offer rice burgers with six to seven different fillings, from chicken meatball to eel to avocado, with prices ranging from $7 to $11. “We don’t want this to be just a craze; I think it’ll be something that people see as an alternative to regular burgers and a little bit healthier,” says manager Sakura Yagi. [Bedford + Bowery]